A Midsummer Night's Dream

10

DIANA

"Auntie hi!" I said as I gave my aunt a hug. She dropped her bags and hugged me back.

"Oh Bonjour mes belle fille!" She said and kissed my cheek.

"How was Paris?" I asked.

"It was amazing. I brought something special for you." My aunt said. She went back to her car and came back with a beautiful emerald green satin dress.
I gasped when I saw the unforgettable dress.

"Isn't it breathtaking! My friend Yves Saint Laurent designed it personally. It'll look even more beautiful on you my darling." Marilyn exclaimed as we admired the beautiful dress.

"I'm gonna tell Julia to place this in your room for the party tonight. Before you go I have some news." Marilyn said as she sat down on the couch.

"Really? What is it?" I asked.

"You told me you were bored and I could use some advice from a young mind so I was thinking we could both visit Paris for fashion week together? It's fashion week but you know the preparations and all the parties so our trip will most likely be a month. So what do you think about living in the city of lights for a month avec moi?" Marilyn suggested.

"I-I'm shocked. Yes, I would love that. Thank you so much!" I said and hugged her.

"Now let me get some rest. We're back on the road to Paris tomorrow! It's a busy time mademoiselle!" Marilyn said and headed to her quarters.

༻✧༺

I looked at my self in the floor length mirror in my bedroom. My aunt was correct, the emerald green dress looked even nicer on. It had beautiful cutouts and designs and was revealing, delicate and subtle all at the same time. The backless dress extended all the way to the floor. I wore matching green heels and some gold earrings and a small, dainty necklace. I had never worn something so mature and sexy but it felt right and I felt amazing in the dress.

I went to Lorraine's bedroom to see if she was ready yet.
I opened the door and gasped. I saw Marcel pinning Lorraine against the wall. He was kissing her neck and breasts while they were having sex and crawling all over each other.

I instantly closed the door behind me and took a deep breath. They were already having sex.
Gross.

I heard music coming from a far in the ballroom. The party had started.
I walked quickly down to the ball room. I was out of breath by the time I got there. The whole village had already gathered for the Summer Solstice party. Every girl was wearing a nice, fancy dress and every boy was wearing a suit which they had all saved up for definitely.

Most girls and women were wearing conservative dresses which covered most of their skin in pale pink, baby blue, lilac and yellow colours. My satin green dress definitely stood out from everyone else which made me feel slightly insecure.

I headed to the drinks table and poured myself a glass of whiskey and I drank it all in one big gulp.

"Oh Diana you look beautiful!" I heard a familiar voice say behind me.

"Cecilia! How are you doing?" I asked, turning around.

"I'm doing great! Look my father got me the scarf I had asked for! Isn't it lovely!" She exclaimed, showing me the white, silk scarf tied around her shoulders. She was wearing a white and pink shin length dress with a tall collar and net sleeves.

"You're scarf and dress look beautiful." I said and gave her a hug.

"You're dress is just stunning! When you walked in my friends and I all gasped. You're dress is so beautiful and different. My parents would kill me if I wore something that... revealing." She commented with a laugh.

"Cece why don't we have some drinks?" I proposed as I poured both of us two margaritas.

"Oh no... I don't drink. I can't, my parents will get angry. Once I got a bit tipsy at Christmas dinner from wine and dropped a pie. They never let me drink after that." Cecilia confessed.

"It'll be fine. Just one margarita. I don't want to drink alone." I pushed.

She hesitated a moment and then took it.

"Have you seem Theodore?" I asked, looking around for him.

"No, not really." Cecilia said. She waited a moment before she spoke again. "Can I tell you a secret?" She asked. I nodded and we both sat down.

"The Lavigne and Blanchet family are really close and Theodore and I's fathers are very close. They have it planned for the two of us to get married when we grow up. It's so it'll be easier to find a husband for me. Theodore and I have been friends since we were very little. He doesn't have any other friends and before I felt like it was fine that I would marry him someday.... I mean he's a nice guy, is responsible and hard working but it's just sad we'll never get a chance to find love on our own but who knows, maybe we will be right for each other in the end." Cecilia said as she stared into her margarita.

Hearing this made me feel weird, I hoped I wasn't jealous, I mean why would I be? What's bound to happen will and the truth was that in a few years Theodore would just be a distant memory and we wouldn't even think about each other again. I should be happy for Cecilia and Theodore.

Cecilia sensed my quietness and sprung up.
"Come on... let's walk around. I'll introduce you to new people." She said.

I took a large sip of my alcoholic drink and let it all brush away.
I was here to have fun tonight.

We walked around as Cecilia told me funny stories about people that we saw while we sipped on our margaritas.

The French music made me want to dance and have some fun. "Let's dance." I suggested to Cece and pulled her to the dance floor.

"What are they performing?" I asked, Cecilia.

"It's called La Vie En Rose. A really famous song here in France."

"I love it." I said and closed my eyes, feeling the music.
Soon I was dancing. Arms flailing in the sky above me, I whirled around and whooped my happiness into the sweat-stained air. Foot forward. Back. I couldn't remember the last time I'd done this. A hand grabbed mins and I was swung backward, dipped low, then soaring into the air, the flashing colors momentarily blinding me ... I touched ground again and skidded to a smiling, breathless halt.

Theodore stood before me with a shy smile as we caught our breaths. I leaned my head against his and smiled.